DARDANELLE - Dardanelle High School EAST Lab students were present at the district's regular school board meeting Monday night in order to inform the board on the variety of activities and community projects its 60 students have accomplished throughout the year.

EAST (Environmental And Spatial Technology) Lab is a multidisciplinary course in which students use cutting-edge computer software and hardware to engage in service-oriented projects that benefit their school and community.

The students volunteered to speak on some of the lab's many benefits - such as enabling students to be better problem-solvers, see new things throughout the community, work more effectively in a team atmosphere and learn about a variety of technological advancements in today's society.

"I've never been in a situation where I have had to do all the teaching myself," first year EAST student James Pearrow said. "Through learning on your own, you become more independent."

While instructor Sandy Williams said she does supervise the class and help them when necessary, the majority of students present commented on how the possibility of self-instruction allowed them to gain much needed "real world experience."

"Mrs. Williams opens the door, but she doesn't make us go through it. We have to do it ourselves," EAST student Brittney Ray said.

Both Pearrow and Ray told about a documentary they recently completed in EAST lab about the history of Dardanelle. They explained the documentary was important because the history of Dardanelle is often overlooked by its residents.

EAST student Jessica Doehring told the board about her group's project, titled "StopMethNow." Doehring - along with group members Mercedes Anthony and Nick George - worked with the Yell County Drug Coalition to promote drug abstinence and eliminate the use of methamphetamine in Yell County. As a part of their project, the group arranged for David Parnell - a motivational speaker and recovering meth addict - to visit the school to discuss the dangers of meth.

In February, the group received the Award of Excellence at the EAST Partnership Conference - an annual gathering of more than 2,000 students from across America. The event spans three days and includes an array of activities such as an exhibition hall showcasing student service projects, student breakout sessions on the latest in technology and an awards banquet.

The board, along with superintendent John Thompson, commended the group on their efforts and expressed its support of the program.

"When this program started six years ago, there was more technology in the EAST lab than NASA had when they sent the first space shuttle into space," he said. "It is amazing how technology has advanced over the years, and we are proud that the high school is part of that."